HISTORIC WALK: U.S. House signs IMPEACHMENT articles & sends to Senate

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to transmit the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate, formally paving the way for a historic trial over the president's dealings with Ukraine after weeks of delay.

The resolution, which passed 228-193 largely along party lines, came nearly a month after lawmakers voted to impeach the president on two counts.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., officially signed the articles Wednesday afternoon during an "engrossment ceremony." Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson and House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving walked a note over to the Senate notifying the upper chamber of Congress that Pelosi had signed the articles of impeachment and appointed managers to the trial.

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., was the only Democrat who voted against the resolution. Rep. Justin Amash, I-Mich., voted with Democrats. There were no Republican defections.

Pelosi had been holding on to the articles -- charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress -- in a bid to extract favorable terms for the trial including a commitment on witnesses, but she ended her delay after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made clear he was not willing to negotiate.

Lawmakers gave impassioned speeches on the House floor in the run-up to the vote. Pelosi said, "We are here today to cross a very important threshold in American history."